Folding boat.



No. 736,623. 'PATENTED AUG. 18, 1903.

I. 0. PBRRING.

FOLDING BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED 001. 2. 1902. K0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

$3M Kg/622w {Md 41.64% I w: mam: ersus cc wmomwu \wsmuoms, pv cv No.736,623. PATENTED- AUG. 18, 1903.

I. 0. PBRRING. FOLDING BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 2. 1902.

N0 MODEL. {SHEETfi-SHEET 2.

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at NIT TATES Patented August I8, 1903.

IRA O. PERRING, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.

FOLDING BOAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 736,623, dated August18, 1903.

Application filed October 2,1902. SerialNo. 125,627. (No model.)

To aZZ whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, IRA O. PERRING, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city of Kalamazoo, in the county of Kalamazoo and Stateof Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFolding Boats, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in folding or collapsible boats,sometimes styled canvas boats.

The objects of the invention are, first, to provide an improved foldingor collapsible boat which is strong and durable and at the same timecomparatively lightin weight and economical to produce; second, toprovide an improved folding or collapsible boat which may be quickly andeasily set up or knocked down and which is capable of being folded intoa compact package for the purpose of storage or transportation; third,to provide an improved folding or collapsible boat which is capable ofbeing folded into a compact package and in which the number of partswhen in the knockdown is reduced to a minimum.

Further objects will definitely appearin the detailed description tofollow. 7

I accomplish the objects of myinvention by the devices and meansdescribed in the following specification. Theinvention is clearlydefined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure embodying the features of my invention is fully illustratedin the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, inwhich- Figurelisacentral vertical longitudinal sectional view of myimproved collapsible boat. Fig. 2 is a vertical central longitudinalsectional view showing the method of inserting the flooring or bottom ofmy improved boat in position when assembling the same. Fig. 3 is a planview of my improved folding or collapsible boat. Fig. 4. is a'plan viewof the flooring or bottom of my improved boat when spread out for use.Fig. 5 is a plan view of the folding bottom or flooring of my improvedboat when folded longitudinally. Fig. 6 isa side elevation View of thebottom or flooring of my improved boat when the same is foldedlongitudinally. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the bottom or the flooring ofmy improved boat when adjusted for assembling the boat. Fig. 8 is a sideelevation view of the bottom of my improved boat folded into its mostcompact form. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the folding bottom portion of myimproved boat when folded into its most compact form, as appears in Fig.8.

In the drawings similar letters of reference refer to similar partsthroughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, A is the skin or covering, which ispreferably of canvas coated with a suitable material to make the sameimpervious to water.

The bottom of my improved boat consists of central portions B 13, havingextensions 12 secured thereto by vertical pivots e. The extensionsb aresecured together by hinges d (I, so that the parts B B, with theextensions 1) b secured thereto, may be folded longitudinally,

as appears in Figs. 5 and 6. The extensions 1) b of the flooring-piecesB B are pivotally secured to the same by vertical pivots 6, so thatafter folding the flooring portion longitudinally the extensions may befolded inwardlybetween the parts B, as is indicated in Figs. 8 and 9,which, it is apparent, is very compact. The pivots of the hinge membersd of the flooring are formed of tubing, such as small gas-pipe, toreceive the ends of the stem and stern ribs F of the boat. (See Fig. 1.)The gunwales are finished and braced in any desired or well-known way.

Gross-grooves c are formed in the flooring to receive and retain theribs 0, which are preferably steel rods suitably conformed to thecross-section of the boat. the ribs 0 engage the gunwale at each sideand are retained in position by the grooves c in the flooring, intowhich they are forced. This stretches the skin, and the ribs prevent thebottom from folding or becoming disar-' ranged.

In assembling my improved boat the skin A is opened and the bow andstern ribs F placed in position. The bottom portion is then opened outand the stern and bow ribs F inserted into the sockets f. The bottom isThe ends of then forced downwardly until it can be opened 7 out flat,which stretches the skin longitudinally. The bottom is then opened outfiat and the ribs 0 placed in position to engage skin can be stretchedvery tight.

the gunwale of the boat and enter into the grooves c, which retain themin posit-ion, and the ribs retain the bottom open and in position. Thisthoroughly stretches the skin, and it is apparent that it isaccomplished without the aid of any tools and also that the The ribs Oprevent the bottom from folding laterally upon itself.

While I provide in my improved boat a continuous fiooring,the same iscomparatively light and may be folded into a very compact package.

I have illustrated and described my improved collapsible boat in theform preferred by me on account of economy of manufacture and simplicityin use. I am aware, however, that it is capable of considerablevariation in structural details without departing from my invention.

The form of the hinges dis most compact.

Other means for providing a socket to receive the ends of the bow andstern ribs are obvious. Other variations in structural details willreadily occur to those skilled in the art to which my inventionappertains and will not, therefore, be particularly described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a folding boat the combination of asuitable flexible skin; a bottom consisting of central portions B Bhaving extensions 17 79 secured thereto by vertical pivots, the wholehaving cross-grooves c; hinges (1' arranged toward the inner end of saidextensions; hinges d having tubular pivots arranged toward the outer endof said extensions; stern and stern ribs adapted to be inserted in saidtubular hinge-pivots; ribs 0 of suitable spring material adapted to beengaged and retained by said grooves when forced into position, wherebysaid skin is stretched and collapsing of the boat prevented.

2. In a folding boat, the combination of a suitable skin of canvas orother suitable material; a bottom consisting of central portions B Bhaving extensions 1) b secured thereto by vertical pivots, the wholehaving crossgrooves c; hinges cl having tubular pivots arranged towardthe outer end of said extensions; stem and stern ribs adapted to beinserted in said tubular hinge-pivots; ribs of suitable spring materialadapted to be engaged and retained by said grooves when forced intoposition, whereby said skin is stretched and collapsing of the boatprevented.

3. In a folding boat, the combination of a suitable skin of canvas orother suitable material; a bottom consisting of central portions 13 Bhaving extensions 1) 17 secured thereto by vertical pivots, the wholehaving crossgrooves c; hinges d having tubular pivots arranged towardthe outer end of said extensions; stem and stern ribs adapted to beinserted in said tubular hinge-pivots; ribs 0 adapted to be engaged andretained by said grooves when they are forced into position, wherebysaid skin is stretched and collapsing of the boat prevented.

4:. In a folding boat, the combination of a skin of canvas or othersuitable material; a bottom consisting of central pieces havingextensions secured thereto by vertical pivots; crossgrooves in said.bottom; suitable horizontal hinge connections arranged on saidextensions; suitable stem and stern ribs; sockets adapted to receivesaid stem and stern ribs arranged toward each end of said bottom;suitable ribs adapted to be received and retained by said grooves,whereby said skin is stretched and collapsing of the boat prevented.

5. In a folding boat, the combination of a suitable flexible skin; abottom consisting of central sections; sections secured thereto byvertical pivots; horizontal hinge members for connecting said partstogether arranged on said extensions; stem and stern ribs; means fordetachably securing said stem and stern ribs to said bottom; andsuitable detachable ribs, all coacting for the purpose specified.

6. A bottom for folding boats consisting of central sections; endsections secured thereto by vertical pivots; and horizontal hinges forsaid end extensions, for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presenceof two witnesses.

IRA O. PERRING. [L. s] Witnesses:

OTIS A. EARL, ETHEL A. TELLER.

IOC

